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tutes. Officials said the plan would cause problems with that reserve fund.
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Man pleads guilty to sex trafficking charge in SD
• SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) -- Federal authorities say a Texas man has pleaded guilty to a commercial sex trafficking charge stemming from an undercover operation in South Dakota.
• The U.S. Attorney in Sioux Falls on Thursday announced the plea of 54-year-old Timothy Gravens.
• The man from Grapevine, Texas, is one of nine who were arrested last summer on charges of trying to pay for sex with underage girls after responding to online classified ads placed during the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.
• Gravens' attorney did not immediately return a call seeking comment.
• An affidavit filed in federal court states the men responded to the ads and then negotiated with undercover agents who were acting as the 12- and 13-year-old girls' pimps.
• Authorities say five of the nine defendants have pleaded guilty and four are scheduled for trial.
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Lawmakers approve texting while driving ban
CHET BROKAW, Associated Press
• PIERRE, S.D. (AP) -- South Dakota lawmakers resurrected and passed a ban on texting while driving Thursday, ending several years of disagreement between the House and Senate.
• The measure was thought to be dead Tuesday, after a committee of House and Senate members couldn't reach agreement on the bill, which had been passed by both chambers but in different versions. A new negotiating panel on Thursday put together a last-minute compromise measure, which then passed 52-18 in the House and 28-7 in the Senate.
• The measure, which will become law if signed by Gov. Dennis Daugaard, would make texting behind the wheel a petty offense carrying a $100 penalty. Drivers could be ticketed for texting violations only if they were stopped for another traffic offense.
• In recent years, the Senate has passed texting bans that were rejected by the House.
• This year's debate focused on disagreements between House Speaker Brian Gosch, R-Rapid City, and Sen. Mike Vehle, R-Mitchell, the sponsors of competing (Continued on page 23)
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